Living alone without the support of your family can be hard, which is why many people also choose to live areas where budget shopping is easy! And most of the time when we go solo, the main concern is finding good places to buy furniture like beds & study tables & utensils for cooking! And most importantly – some retail therapy to curb that occasional loneliness – budget markets for everything us.

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• So, lets put some perspective into place before diving into the list of places where you should head to if you’re going to live solo or with a couple of friends!
• The list has been ranked in order of importance. Initially it tends towards basic essentials like food supplies, then clothes, furniture, books (if you’re a bookworm or student) & finally, retail therapy markets!
• Well then, let’s get going!

I. Pandara Road | Lakshmi Nagar | Khari Baoli

So, the reason why we added Pandara Road here in the list is not because we wanted feature restaurants, no! Pandara Road has one of the oldest PDS shops right behind the Mosque, next to the Khan Market metro station. And here you will find everything you need to from rice, wheat, pulses to toilet essential like soap, shaving cream, combs etc at throwaway prices. But what beats this place is Lakshmi Nagar! The market is a veritable discounted market where everything, from food supplies to clothing essentials can be found at less than half the market price! Traditionally, the market is a real hawkers markets! You can buy everything here for a sum that will later turn out to be far less than your budget! And as for Khari Baoli, the place is the spice capital of the Capital! And no joking, the market is full of sellers hawking their spices that are fresh, the best in Delhi & without any preservatives whatsoever!

Budget Score: 9.5/10

II. Central Market, Lajpat Nagar

The one and only place in Delhi where you will find authentic, yet cheap utensils is the Central Market in Lajpat Nagar! This place has some serious shop owners who’ve been sitting here since before a lot of people of our generation were even born. Here you will find countless shops selling the best quality utensils at throwaway prices. And the best part is that you can drop in anytime here to get your utensils fixed for free, if of course, it falls under warrantee. But then again, if it doesn’t, chill..they will happily charge you a nominal sum to fix it! Besides metal utensils, shops here also have sieves, spoons, serving spoons, cutlery & god knows what not! You better hit this place the next time you go utensil shopping!

Budget Score: 8/10

III.  Janpath | Sarojini Nagar | Hanuman Mandir

So, one of the first things anybody does when they shift to a new city is look for budget places to buy every day clothes & sometimes even office clothes! Head to any of the three markets – Janpath, Sarojini Nagar Market & Hanuman Mandir, they are a shopper’s haven! You will find everything here, from branded copies to actual branded clothes being sold at discounted rates! And the best part is that over here you will find entire looks for less than ₹1,000! Now, that’s something that has got to be on your list when you go shopping the next time. At Janpath we suggest you buy your office clothes, since there are shops here dedicated to just that. From pants to formal shirts, you will find a wide range of clothes shops here! At Sarojini Market you can buy everything party, hip & chill! It’s the place where everyone in Delhi has been going to since their childhood! But special occasions also call for some special things to buy. That’s where Hanuman Mandir Market comes in! The market has a wide variety of shops that sell bangles & everything traditional at throwaway prices! And its a must visit!

Budget Score: 9/10

IV. Amar Colony | Kirti Nagar Market | MG Road | Panchkuian Road

The Kings of furniture in Delhi-NCR, these 4 markets are the epitome of budget furniture shopping. Shops here have been there for decades now, selling top quality furniture made themselves & to our specifications since before they came into the mainstream! You can go here on any given day and never feel disappointed, because the range & the service shops here provide is simply mind boggling. There are two options at these markets – you either buy the pre made furniture that they have on sale or you have the shop owner build some for you! We personally suggest you go there & have them build beds & study tables according to your specification! That way you will get what YOU want and also keep a track of the money the carpenter will spend on buying raw materials. And the best part? These guys will even deliver to your doorsteps those beds & other pieces of furniture!

Budget Score: 8.5/10

V. Gaffar Market | Chor Baazar | Karol Bagh

And now finally to the most important part of the list – the retail therapy markets in Delhi-NCR! Sometimes it feels as if these three markets have been around for centuries, ’cause shops here know exactly what we want, for how much & in how much quantity. Gaffar Market is best known for its tech products that it sells, sometimes even before the good launches in India for how much? Less than half the price! Now, that’s a hot deal! Chor Baazar is where you will find everything that you won’t find in any of Delhi;s traditional markets like the ones we’ve described above. From old gramophones to the best shades & branded clothes, here you are sure to get the ultimate shoppingasm! And let’s not forget Karol Bagh! This market is a haven for all those who love buying branded clothes or their first copies. Here you will find everything for throwaway prices that you & us sometimes fail to comprehend even!

Budget Score: 9/10

VI. Nai Sadak | Daryaganj | Paharganj Market

Nai Sadak, Daryaganj & Paharganj Market are an old Delhi favourite for all bookworms. With shops on both sides of the street selling second hand books, many shops here are a haven to all who wish to buy second hand books! And the best part? Even if you buy a first hand book here, it will cost you next to nothing. In fact, there are numerous shops here selling stationary items at a wholesale price. These three markets will never disappoint you & will always fulfil all your academic needs.

Budget Score: 10/10

DforDelhi Recommends:

• That you listen to us when we tell ya that these markets are the best in their business!
• So, buy into your new life without shedding a single tear on costly good from super expensive markets.

In the meanwhile, do read our blog post on why Gaffar Market must be on every Delhites must visit list, here. And our post on Chor Baazar here.